"In my imagination"...

"In my imagination I see a just world,
Everyone lives in peace and in honesty there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like the clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.

In my imagination I see a bright world,
Even the night is less dark there.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly.

In my imagination there exists a warm wind,
That breathes on the cities, like a friend.
I dream of souls that are always free,
Like clouds that fly,
Full of humanity in the depths of the soul."

- Nella Fantasia / "In my imagination"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UjFnL8Fphs&feature=related

Happy 2011! Here I come.

Spent a good few hours with Moli sitting at SMU public benches to have a good review of the year 2010, checked our new year resolutions for 2010. Not too bad, at least more than 50% accomplished. Then of course charted out the resolutions for 2011. This year got pretty more structured (influenced by work), but I guess it's clearer and more practical. Instead of writing one whole long list of random things I wish to do/get/have.

Attended Thanksgiving Mass at Divine Mercy Church. First time there. =D
Not very impressed by the architecture and acoustics.
Only impressed by the rather friendly and welcoming community.
It's really quite a waste when churches are not designed properly.
just googled, architect is Philip Lee from Strategic Design International.
Found out that the original design had more arches and supposed to look more church-like.
I guess eventually because of budget or whatever, became boxes and rectangles in the end.

Well anyway, ended the night at Summer Breeze Cafe at Pasir Ris Beach.
Happening countdown and clubbing music played all night long.
Couldn't tahan the "noise". Went to sit at the breakwaters and waited for 12MN.
A special and first ever countdown at a beach.

Next year, I have decided.
Have a nice cooked meal at home.
Have a drink. Watch TV countdown show.
Stock up on poppers and sparklers.
Invite some close friends over.
And that's it.
No need to beat the traffic jams, jostling crowd, loud music, hang-over the next morning or what-nots.

God, thank you for everything in 2010.
For good times and in bad times, you were there for me.
For 2011, Holy Spirit take over. Let your will be done.

picked up a nice quote from Corrinne May's song a few days back...
never really hear & catch this part after listening to her songs so many times.
"Just stay on track,
'cause every cross can be a blessing
for the gifts that you've been given
close your eyes and listen
to who you're meant to be."

just spewing out...

don't know where to start

but shall just give it a try.

Almost coming to half a year

And I'm thankful for my work

the exposure

my colleagues

the long hours

and the early knock-offs.

No Monday blues for me

Coz site meeting at Jurong East.

Get to go home on time.

Just not sure how have I been faring

Need to steepen learning curve more

or just stay the way it is?

Guess i need some kind of feedback.

Train-rides...

People fight to get their seats, and so do I.

They whipped out their iPhone,

and I whipped out my Word Among Us.

I enjoy the read every morning to work

though sometimes sleepy.

It's scary how iPhone is colonising the world and our lives.

Will I really need to use iPhone to pacify my kids in future?

iPhone...Mac...the bitten apple...the Forbidden Fruit.

And truly, Macbook is so seductive.

Will I succumb to this "fruit" one of these days?

~ 1 month back...

Archdiocese Youth Day Facil Trg @ CAYC.

Session by Brian Butler.

The trg was not the usual ones.
No running through of programs.

Instead, it focuses on the inner conversion of hearts

of the facils...a very personal one-day retreat i feel.

The Mystery Trip video was inspiring to me.

Many times during praise & worship,

closed my eyes and sang.

Heard the resounding voices filling the hall,

felt like heaven on earth.

My heart was massaged very much with love,

a love that the world cannot give,

and I very much needed.

Realized that all my sins are rooted very much

from a lack of love being felt.

Went on straight away to CSC to attend Moli's

"graduation Mass" for the Conversion Retreat.

Listened to those tears-inducing testimonies.

That one day was just unexpected,

yet very fulfilling.

He likes to catch me by surprise. =)

Read the Theology of the Body for Him and Her.

Insights and revelations.

Man is a representation of Christ, who's always the Initiator.

Learnt to really take initiative and not complain/whine.

But after a while when the fuel run out,

need to remind myself again.

And again & again, we're taught...

to give till it hurts..

Coz it's "better to give than to receive".

Selfless giving than demands no rewards.

Sometimes yes...give and I feel blessed.

sometimes no...give and give..and feel drained.

and yea...hurt sometimes.

Perhaps it benefitted the others and I've done a good job.

So my rewards are in heaven.

My only consolation.

Relationships are so important.

Enjoyed meeting up with my archi friends

and just catching up with them.

Listened, joked, talked and discussed about life issues.

All within a span of one month!

Combi 1 - Juku, Stacy & Youjie. Happy for Stacy getting married!

Combi 2 - Olivia, Sarah, John and Zhiliang. Bday boys celebration.

Had a super therapeutic laugh over the 2hours plus dinner at Cedele.

And bumped into Ivan and MelDragon with other CSS Alumni. Hoho!

Combi 3 - Olivia, Kaixin and Peiyun. The Westees @ Jurong Coffeeshop.

Amazingly chatted till almost 10pm.

I guessed it's worthed the late nights on wkdays.

Human connections make me more human and alive.

Weddings...lost count how many I went.

Enjoyed those I attended for my JC Class..

amazed at how united we still are...

can chat non-stop...
all thanks to our class rep and Mrs Teo.

How will my "ideal wedding" be like?

Taking many mental notes and even did research online...

exciting but yet wary...

plan plan plan...then in the end don't materialise..

Christmas is coming...!

earnestly waiting to get myself a Xmas present

with my year end bonus...hopefully!

my long-awaited digital piano...

Wow...it's been almost 2months...

Hello blog,

Have many thoughts to "pen" down but just haven't got the "energy", time and drive to do it.

Shall do it really soon...before I forget.

Find it necessary to document my "milestone-thoughts" and "revelations".

So long..farewell!

PS: Yay...had fun changing blog layout and design. +)

hello blog...

Long time no see...

Been more than a month since I last blogged!

August really flew past.

Only remembered my memorable retreat at Montfort Centre

The Youth Olympics

And my record breaking working hours in Week 3...

3 consecutive days of working past 10pm and taking a cab back home

Down with flu in the end but managed to pull through without knocking on the doctor's door.

Had fulfilling and interesting weekends but somehow there's something inside me just screaming for a restful day of pure resting.

Took leave on 20th, a friday. Not rested at all.

Somehow, we urbanites don't even know how to rest anymore?

Many thoughts and couple of revelations...

don't know how to pen down.

But just grateful and thankful for His helping hand and healing grace.

Ministry work seemed to slowly get a bit haywire due to my lack of time dedicated.

4 months of employment and I've gained 1 kg by the 2nd month.

Hope it does not goes up exponentially.

Gaining weight is good for me. But I seriously need to work out a exercise regime.

Discipline!

Dilemmas

Judgement calls

Assumptions

Dissatisfaction

Comparison

Frustration

Resentment

Disappointments

Surprises

Affirmation

Faith.

Beautiful insights from Thomas Smith...or rather...the Bible

Rabbi: "Come follow me."
It simply means, "You can be like me."
We're called to discipleship as God knows we've the potential to be like Christ.
And what a disciple needs is the 3 "F"s,
Free to love
Faith in Christ
bear great Fruits

Learnt in-depth of the background of the city of Corinth and Ephesus.
So beautiful are the correlations/relevance to the readings of Corinthians and Ephesians.
I like the name Corinth. Maybe give that name to my kids...+)

A lot of historical background...
drawing references to Old Testament, and even modern day...
was perpetually sleepy throughout the day.
Kept writing notes to keep myself awake.

oh yes, finally...we're also called to be prophets of today.
Role of prophets are not just to foretell the future,
but they are mainly to give encouragement, build people up and consoles people.
This is what some of the prophetic books does like Malachi, Haggai.


Yesterday was at Angela's house for the Taize gathering.
Her house was jaw-dropping.
I felt like I was in some tropical parts of Europe or smthg.
Br Ghislain from Taize was there and led the sharing with Taize songs.
It was surreal.
Relieving the memories and some of them got emotional.
Coz we're just sucked into our work and back to the swirl of things,
often trying to find our centre and re-focus back.
Trying not to forget what we brought back/learnt from the pilgrimmage of trust.
Angela worked as a lawyer for 3yrs after graduation...
and she got fed up and decided to go travel for 6months with another friend.
There...she stumbled upon Taize in France and slowly...
the Taize community in S'pore starts from then.
God calls and leads in mysterious ways.
Indeed.

Commenced

More than half a year has gone by

And I finally had a proper closure to my Uni education on 9th July 2010

Donned the graduation gown and mortar board

Went up stage for a brief 10seconds

Had hours of photo-taking with families and friends.

After all, truly it's just a ceremony.

What matters most is the heart, memories shared and experienced gained over the 5years.

Saw Richard Ho's comment on Colin's fb wall,

"the journey has just begun".

Now then it dawned on me that our graduation is called "Commencement".

Truly, the journey has just begun.

2 months and going on to 3 months in RSP,

work has been challenging yet exciting and fun.

Practically learning something new every other day.

Stress level can be high when people just keep coming back to me and task me with work.

Should I be heartened that they trust my ability?

But just can't help to lament the neverending work at times.

Being the perfectionist and efficient person,

I often get frustrated for not being able to accomplish tasks in time.

Just thursday I missed my haircut appointment coz I've to clear my work before going on leave on Friday for my graduation. Felt irritated.
I need to be realistic and accept certain facts of life and myself.

Praying and hoping that my work will not gravely affect my upcoming commitment in my LRSS Cell Groups...if not i'll be even more frustrated.

Balance?

Trying to find.

Peace and harmony at heart?

Trying to achieve.

Ministering in church?

Trying to prioritise and discern.

So many things seemed to be deficient for me...

not enough this not enough that...

what is enough?

what is abundant?

questions

searching

I need to exercise regularly.

I need rest.

I need to pray.

wants and needs....another tussle.

random thoughts...

I think S'pore and the world is going to suffer from the iPhone disease.

it's a powerful and useful tool.

Depends on users.

But more often, people choose escapism and enter the world of iPhone...

when they're on train, when they're practically everywhere.

Their soul seemed to be sucked into the phone.

Possessions...

Indeed, possessed by possessing the iPhone.